When Lithuania was a member of the Security Council in 2014-2015, they made a stand for the conflict in Ukraine to be brought to the attention of the Security Council. 

Estonia is now using its membership to draw the world's attention to the human rights situation in Belarus and to give the floor to those whose voices are being suppressed.

An overview on human rights in Belarus will be given by:

• UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Anais Marin;
• Belarusian opposition presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya;
• Vice-Chairman of the Viasna Human Rights Center, Valiantsin Stefanovic;
• Legal Expert for the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Volha Siakhovich.

The virtual meeting will be chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa). 

The event is co-organized by the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as Iceland, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and Denmark.

Timetable (Estonian time)

5 p.m Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu opens the event

5.01 p.m. - 5.08 p.m. Anais Marin, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Belarus

5.08 p.m. - 5.15 p.m. Presidential candidate of the Belarusian opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya

5.15 p.m. - 5.23 p.m. Valiantsin Stefanovich, Deputy Chairman of the Viasna Center for Human Rights

5.23 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. Volha Shiahovich, legal expert of the Belarusian Association of Journalists

5.30 p.m. - onwards: Speeches by UN member states (Estonian speeches approximately between 6 p.m. - 6:10 p.m.)

You can always watch the UNSC meeting on youtube or on the website of Estonia's permanent mission to the United Nations.

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